Brit World Superbike star James Toseland is determined to get back on board and win this weekend, after a disastrous last round.

The 23-year-old Yorkshire- man, who rides for the Fila Ducati factory squad, is determined to put his run of bad luck behind him.

"I just want to get there, get on the bike and get back to winning races," he told me. "The last round was one I'd rather forget about, and I'm gunning for victory this weekend."

Toseland, lying second in the World Superbike Championship behind Italian rider Pier Francesco Chili, was left languishing at the back of the grid at the start of the last two races in Misano last month.

After making a wrong tyre choice during early qualifying, his best time was not fast enough to grab a place in the Superpole shoot out - where the top 16 riders do one fast lap to determine their grid spots - so was left watching the battle from the pits.

But in both races he managed to weave his way through the grid to finish in the points, thus keeping his championship hopes well and truly alive.

"I knew I was doomed, if you don't make Superpole you know you're not going to be in the top 16, but by then the damage was done.

"It was just a mistake, both by the team and by myself, I can't appoint blame to anyone. But it was a very costly mistake and one I am determined will not happen again."

If Toseland sounds a touch hard on himself, it's because he is. Ever the professional, he knows riding for the factory squad this year will give him the best opportunity to claim his first WSBk title . . .

And he is determined not to squander it.

He said: "I'm asked a lot of the time if riding with the factory team makes a difference, but it doesn't really.

"I would want to win and be the best man out there no matter what I'm riding.

"It just so happens my bike is red, so people expect the results.

"But it still takes hard work from everyone, and winning a race is just as hard for us as it is for anyone else.

"We get as much satisfaction from victory as any other team."

As he heads to Monza this weekend, Toseland is confident he can get the results he wants - and most importantly beat team-mate Regis Laconi.

"I've got a good history at Monza, and I fully intend to be up there at the front," he added.

"I want to forget all about Misano and concentrate on the here and now. I've always said I want the title this year, and I will work damn hard to get it."

GEORDIE whizz-kid Chris Burns is hoping for better luck today at the French GP at Le Mans.

The MotoGP rider has yet to start a race this season after his team, WCM, struggled to raise enough cash at the start of the season.

But he finally got the magic call three weeks ago and was due back in the saddle a fortnight ago at Jerez in Spain.

Yet even then things failed to go smoothly, when Burns fell during qualifying and broke his thumb, and was unable to qualify for the race.

"Believe me, I am so looking forward to Sunday," he told me.

"This is a track where I have actually ridden the bike before so I am familiar with it, which is always an advantage.

"My thumb is still sore from Jerez, and still about twice the size it's meant to be, but I'm hoping after a few injections it should be OK.

"I need to get on the grid this week, but I'm confident we can do it.

"We know the bike can finish races, so it is up to me to get the job done.

"I'm still upset that I didn't even make the start of the race in Jerez, - but fingers crossed we can do it at Le Mans and I can get a good finish.

"I'm raring to go and really looking forward to it. It's great to be back in MotoGP and I plan to do the very best I can."

Catch Burns' race live on Sunday Grandstand from 12.45pm on BBC2, followed by Toseland's races from Monza at 2.05pm.

F1: Williams have denied rumours that 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve would be testing their car - but failed to rule out any further tests with the French-Canadian star.

Sportscars: Sunderland's Warren Hughes finished an impressive third from the back of the grid in the Porsche Carrera Cup last weekend, and hopes to chase a future in sportscar racing.

MotoGP: Telefonica Honda team manager Fausto Gresini says he is willing to wait for Texan Tornado Colin Edwards to get up to speed, following his poor start to the 2004 season.

F1: Bernie Ecclestone has set Michael Schumacher a new challenge - to see if the German can win all 18 races in this season's calendar . . . I'm sure that will delight his rivals!